Northern Cambria board appoints Joseph Bradley as superintendent in 5–4 vote

The Northern Cambria School Board on Nov. 19 voted 5–4 to appoint Joseph (Joe) Bradley as superintendent, approving a five-year contract that starts in 2025 with a $125,000 starting salary and a 1% yearly increase. The motion passed after a roll-call vote that split the board.

The vote followed public comment and a short debate among board members. Diane Lesboski, who identified herself as a newly elected board member, told the board she had asked for a list of candidates and the hiring process but was denied because she was not yet sworn in. "Who do you represent? Do you represent the school? Do you represent the community? Do you represent the board and the board president?" Lesboski asked the board’s solicitor during public comment, urging clarity on whose interests legal counsel serves.

During the appointment discussion one board member criticized the pace and communication of the search. The member said the process "was rushed," that coordination and scheduling were poor, and urged colleagues to "keep monitoring" the transition. After the vote the appointee, Joe Bradley, thanked the board and community and said he looked forward to serving students, staff and families at Northern Cambria.

Roll-call excerpts recorded on the agenda show the motion passed with five votes in favor and four opposed. Supporters cited Bradley’s background with small schools and familiarity with rural-district issues; opponents said the board should have provided more time and clearer communications around the process. The board did not record public details about the candidate pool during the meeting.

Next steps: the board approved Bradley’s contract on the record; the district will work with its attorney and administration on transition steps and public communications. The board did not vote on any additional personnel actions related to the hiring at the same meeting.